Download CommonLit | The Emancipation Proclamation

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The Emancipation Proclamation
By Abraham Lincoln
1863
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the 16th president of the United States who led the country through the
Civil War and abolished slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the height of the Civil
War and was directed at the 11 states that were still in rebellion. Using his authority as Commander in Chief
of the armed forces, Lincoln decreed that all slaves within those states were free, and could join and fight in
paid service in the army. As you read, take notes on the clauses and conditions of the Emancipation
Proclamation. What was its purpose?
January 1, 1863
By the President of the United States of America:
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A Proclamation.
[1]
Whereas, on the twenty-second day of
September, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was
issued by the President of the United States,
containing, among other things, the following, to
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wit:
"Abraham Lincoln Memorial 1" is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
"That on the first day of January, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtythree, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall
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then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the
Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will
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recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such
persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
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"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States
and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against
the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith,
represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a
majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong
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countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are
not then in rebellion against the United States."
1.
2.
3.
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5.
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Announcement, ruling
Namely, specifically
From this time on
Repress (verb): restrict, persecute
Aforesaid (adjective): stated before
Countervailing (adjective): contradictory
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Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested
as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion
against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for
suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
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hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full
period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States
and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United
States, the following, to wit:
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Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St.
Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans,
including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the
counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including
the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if
this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held
as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and
that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities
thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
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And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in
necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully
for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into
the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to
man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon
military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty
God.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.
By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln is in the public domain.
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8.
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In agreement
Enjoin (verb): to command
Abstain (verb): to choose not to do something
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Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.
1.
PART A: What was Lincoln’s most likely purpose for issuing the Emancipation
Proclamation?
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B.
C.
D.
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B.
C.
D.
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B.
C.
D.
[RI.9] [RI.8]
His power as the Commander-in-Chief
The Thirteenth Amendment
The power of Congress to declare war
The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What is the purpose of paragraph 5 in the structure of the text?
A.
[RI.1]
“…all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the
people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be
then, thenceforward, and forever free….” (Paragraph 2)
“…the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and
naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such
persons….” (Paragraph 2)
“And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all
violence, unless in necessary selfdefence; and I recommend to them that, in all
cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.” (Paragraph 7)
“And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the
Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of
mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.” (Paragraph 9)
Which of the following best describes the constitutional principle which allows
President Lincoln to make this proclamation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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To free all enslaved people in America and bring an end to the institution of
slavery once and for all
To free most slaves in America, namely those in the rebelling states, thus
weakening said states
To strengthen both the Union and the Confederate armies by allowing newly
freed slaves to join
To provoke the South into an all-out civil war against the North
PART B: Which of the following best supports the answer to Part A?
A.
[RI.6]
[RI.5]
Paragraph 5 serves to break up the blocky text of the rest of the proclamation
by providing a list of rebel states.
Paragraph 5 lists all of the states and parts of states that are considered in
rebellion against the Unites States and the ways in which they can be proven
otherwise.
Paragraph 5 lists all of the states and parts of states that are considered in
rebellion against the United States in order to make clear those in which slaves
are now considered free.
Paragraph 5 lists all of the states and parts of states that are considered in
rebellion against the United States; Lincoln is essentially declaring war on them.
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5.
What is the significance of allowing formerly enslaved persons to join the military?
Cite specific evidence from the text in your response.
[RI.3]
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Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to
share your original ideas in a class discussion.
1.
How do you think this proclamation was received by the Confederate states? The Union
states?
2.
How do you think this proclamation was received by slaves and freed slaves?
3.
Do you think this proclamation had immediate success? Why or why not?
4.
Do you think this Lincoln’s vision of America came true? In the context of the text, how has
America changed over time? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other
literature or art to answer this question.
5.
In the context of this text, what are the effects of prejudice and discrimination? How has
our nation responded to it throughout history? Cite evidence from this text, your own
experience, and other literature or art to answer this question.
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